We know how frustrating back pain can be. Many people with back pain struggle to find long-term relief. You may have tried one treatment after another with inconsistent results. If you have been suffering from chronic back pain, manual therapy and a personalized exercise program might be right for you. Keep reading to learn more.
Manual therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy. Treatment is delivered by your therapist’s hands. When done by a skilled therapist, it reduces pain, improves joint mobility, and restores your ability to function. And it comes without the risks of pills, shots, or surgery.
Manual Therapy and Exercise: Proven to Alleviate Back Pain
A 2018 research paper published in the Spine Journal pooled together 51 individual studies. These studies investigated the benefits of 2 different types of manual therapy for people with chronic back pain: joint manipulation and joint mobilization. Both techniques are gentle and pain-free.
Mobilization moves joints and muscles in a slow fashion. And manipulation moves joints and muscles with a little more speed. Researchers found both types of techniques improved pain and disability in people with back pain lasting 12 weeks or more. Manipulation was found to be a little more effective than mobilization. And both techniques were proven to be safe.
Another important finding is that manual therapy is more effective when it is combined with other treatments like exercise. The combination of manual therapy plus exercise is what makes the pain relief last.
3 Manual Therapy Techniques That Decrease Back Pain
Physical therapists use clinical reasoning and their hands to apply pressure on muscles and manipulate joints. This restores movement and decreases pain caused by muscle spasms, muscle tension, and arthritic joints.
Therapeutic touch is applied in a skilled fashion. This calms or facilitates your body’s nervous system. Often, you experience an immediate decrease in pain, improved muscle function, and improved mobility.
Mobilization and manipulation consist of movements of joints and muscles. All of these treatments are pain-free. Below are examples of 3 techniques that help restore joint mobility and decrease back pain.
Manual therapy treatment usually lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Your therapist then prescribes 3 to 4 specific exercises targeting your unique problem. In order for pain relief to last, it is imperative that you perform these exercises at home.
See Your Physical Therapist for an Initial Evaluation
Before applying any manual therapy treatment, your physical therapist must thoroughly examine you. All people with back pain do not receive the same treatment. Therefore, your program is always personalized.
If you are having upper or lower back pain, the sooner you see your physical therapist the better your outcome will be. The longer you wait the harder it is to recover. Also, your brain is really good at compensating for how you move to avoid pain. You don’t want to develop bad habits that are hard to break.
Call your physical therapist and schedule an initial evaluation.
